Chapter 14: From Grandfather's Generation to Grandson's Generation

In an instant, Ye Father had already imagined the scene of living with Ye Lao San, where he'd have to work himself to death—he'd rather live alone.

"Dad, I'm sincere!"

"Believe you, and I'll be working till I'm eighty!"

"Don't believe me, and you'll still be working till eighty! My grandma is eighty and still growing vegetables!"

Ye Father said irritably, "Living with you would shorten my life—I'd die of anger, probably wouldn't even make it to eighty."

"Oh, alright then," Ye Yaodong shrugged, "then there's no helping it. I'll just move out so you can live a long life! Pick one of Big Brother or Second Brother to live with you, let them raise your old age here!"

Knowing full well his father had planned to build three sets, he still said it deliberately to stir things up.

Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao immediately looked unhappy, yet didn't dare to plainly say they were unwilling.

Could Ye Father not see what they were thinking? He just didn't call it out.

Ye Mother was busy feeding her little grandson, so she only listened without speaking, but her heart had grown a little cold now.

She asked herself, she'd never treated her three daughters-in-law badly—served them well through their month of confinement, helped with the grandchildren—and in the end, only the third daughter-in-law was willing to live with them!

Actually, before bed last night she had discussed with Ye Father that they'd just build three sets. The old house they lived in was already very dilapidated, and they were only just over fifty—if they lived another twenty-plus years, this house probably wouldn't be livable anymore.

After they died of old age, the three brothers could just sell this homestead plot and split the money—no need to think about living with any particular son. They could still work, didn't need their sons to support them; if the children wanted to show filial respect day to day, they'd just accept it.

Who knew Ye Father's impromptu test would draw out the true thoughts of two daughters-in-law. Luckily, the two sons were good, and the third daughter-in-law was good too.

The children at the table, hearing the adults talk, didn't dare to interrupt—they just buried their heads and ate hard, then got down from the table to play once finished, not caring about the adults' troubles.

Only then did the three daughters-in-law sit down, but none had the heart to eat, all waiting for Ye Father to speak.

Ye Father was feeling very unhappy inside, but couldn't take it out on his daughters-in-law. He only glared at his three sons and said clearly, "I've already arranged it with the commune—build three rooms, one each. Your mother and I don't need you to support us; we can still work."

Really asking for trouble on his own—should've just said one set each from the start!

At these words, Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao also breathed a sigh of relief, smiles immediately appearing on their faces.

How could Ye Ye Dabo and Li Li Laoer not understand their wives' little schemes at this point? They both glared at their wives, somewhat displeased.

"Alright, hurry up and eat. After eating, Ye Dabo and Li Laoer come with me to hire workers—we still need to buy sand."

Ye Mother also said, "I'll go find someone to pick an auspicious day in a bit, choose a good day before starting work."

"Mm."

At the whole table, only Ye Yaodong and the old lady's mood was unaffected, no ripples at all. He even smiled and picked out fish for the old lady.

The old lady had no teeth and could only eat fish!

"Grandma, once I make money I'll buy you dentures, then you can eat anything!"

"Oh, good, good~" The old lady was coaxed into beaming with joy.

Four words flashed through everyone's mind: When pigs fly?

But the atmosphere at the table also lightened up at once through his actions.

After eating, Ye Yaodong pushed his bowl aside before reaching his chopsticks toward the clams. These things went well with wine, not with a meal—still had to peel the shells with one hand, too much trouble. He'd always saved them for after-meal drinking snacks.

Too bad there was no liquor at home now, and even if there were, they wouldn't let him drink!

So he was self-aware enough not to ask, to avoid getting snapped at!

But even so, he still got scolded...

He'd only eaten a few when he reached his chopsticks out again and got his hand smacked away by his mother.

"Finished eating and still reaching for more—can't you save some for tonight? Always thinking of finishing it all in one meal. Eat it all and see what you pair with it tonight?"

In an instant, from the grandfather generation he became the grandson generation—damn, that gap feels a bit too big!

Ye Yaodong bit the tip of his chopsticks and said glumly, "We dug a whole basket this morning, enough to last till tomorrow. Can't we still go gather seafood tomorrow? Are we afraid we won't have more of these things?"

"You go gather?"

"If I go, I go—didn't I go this morning too?"

Ye Mother was about to say something when the old lady said heartachingly, "It's so hot out, the sun is strong. Remember to bring a hat tomorrow, don't get sunburned. I'll fill a flask of tea for you to take to quench your thirst."

Ye Father said discontentedly, "Just gathering seafood at the shore—how much sun can there be? We're on the boat from dawn to dusk and never said a word. You're just making a fuss."

Ye Yaodong: Wronged to death... he didn't say anything, did he?

"You're used to hard labor, but Dongzi still has tender, fair skin—can that compare? He already said he'd go gather seafood tomorrow. Can't you let him eat a couple more bites now? It doesn't cost money either."

Ye Father felt utterly helpless facing the old lady. "Just spoil him then!"

"Being able to eat is a blessing. As long as the children in our family are healthy and safe, that's enough. Dongzi, eat—if you like it, eat more. Once you're done, we'll go dig up more tomorrow."

"Okay."

His parents looked at him and found fault no matter how they looked. How did he used to be so thick-skinned as to pretend he didn't see and just keep doing his own thing?

Anyway, he couldn't do that now. After two bites, he got right down from the table.

After gargling, he tossed the dipper aside and saw two big basins of clams on the stove, their shells open with tentacles sticking out. There was also half a bucket on the ground, tentacles out as well.

Many hands make light work—the haul was really not small, just three hours and they'd dug this much. But with so many people in the family, it couldn't withstand the consumption—probably only enough for two or three days.

"Mom, did you specially fetch seawater back to keep them in?"

"What else?"

He obediently shut his mouth!

If he said using salt mixed with tap water to keep them would also work, he'd definitely get scolded again!

What they ate now was coarse salt, carried over by people to sell, and not cheap either. How could his mother possibly use salt mixed with water to keep clams? She'd rather walk ten-plus minutes to the shore to fetch a bucket of seawater back.

"Step aside, I'm looking for a rag."

Ye Yaodong was tugged by his wife and stopped standing around in the room, carrying the reclining chair straight to the doorway under the shade of a tree to sit.

But no sooner had he sat in the reclining chair, before his legs had shaken twice, he saw his Ye Ye Dabo and Ye Ye Erge coming by again?

They hadn't given up?

"Ah, what wind blew Ye Ye Dabo and Ye Ye Erge here again—this damned southeast wind! Have you eaten?"

Uncle Ye Ye Erbo's mouth twitched. "We've eaten our fill of the northwest wind, no need to eat the southeast wind too!"

Ye Ye Yaohua was rinsing his mouth at the doorway with a dipper, and hearing this he choked and started coughing violently. Really… really… you can actually answer like that…

Ye Yaodong also looked at his second uncle in surprise—his mind was pretty sharp, he'd caught on that fast.